From CNN regarding Michelle's college roommate...

[TTUBatfan2008]

Apparently Michelle's roommate moved out because her mom didn't want her living with an African American. They have both apologized to her for it and regret it.

And people wonder why Michelle felt that she didn't fit in at Princeton. The attacks on her thesis during the campaign were ignorant and racist. Don't criticize something if you haven't walked in that person's shoes.

[Cha]

1. Wow..that's got to be

a little traumatic.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Hell, I can't imagine myself going to Princeton, let alone a black person back then...

I'm a military kid and was the token poor kid in graduate school at a fancy university.

I'm glad to hear they've apologized. In my culture, the military, you don't get away with that shit.

[unblock]

30. blacks were fairly well represented at princeton, though not all that well integrated

princeton was very cliquish back then, probably still is today -- some of their setup actually encourages it, the residential colleges, the eating clubs, etc. a lot of blacks felt more comfortable at the third world center, a lot of whites didn't feel comfortable there, and this inhibited better mixing.

still most of the student population was totally cool about it and loved how diverse the student body was. in the class of '85, i think we had at least 2 people from every state in the union plus at least one person from 35 or so other countries, and of course a good mix of races and religion. the only problem, statistically, was the 7 men for every 4 women ratio, but i understand women slightly outnumber men nowadays.

a wise woman and former boss of mine once said that a small minority of any group are assholes and ruin it for the large majority. yes there were assholes and racists at princeton, but we weren't all like that, not by a long shot.

[slampoet]

39. very cliquish = racism commited by the Rich.

[KittyWampus]

41. actually, as a white person who has moved in elite circles it isn't always the racism

Very often it's CLASS.

Some kids who've grown up with nannies and trust funds and their own cars etc, have NO CLUE how to act.

IMO, one of the best arguments for insisting for every kid to serve a couple of years in national service like the military is they'd be forced to live and get along with people they didn't grow up with.

[Captain Hilts]

43. That was my point. It's more about CLASS. As the kid of a military officer, a fairly senior one...

I didn't fit in with the other grad students and I'm really white.

As the child of two people with higher degrees, Obama - were very close in age - would probably have faired better than I.

[slampoet]

46. Racism is not just about color. It happens to white people when CASTE is a factor.

I went 27 years without hearing ONE Polish joke yet in the last year i have been called or heard the word POLACK by several Brown University students.

I have been discriminated against for not being Jewish, not being Italian, not being Chinese, being part Irish and being part German.

I have also witnessed racism against all these groups from Brown university students in the last year.


Now here is the kicker. Brown University annually get awards and kudos for being the very model of college diversity. This even though they have a 60% legacy rate. 60% of students had a parent or grand parent attend.


Brown also gets awards for activism yet the college exists in Providence RI which is the most corrupt locality in the USA. This is because Brown activists are more likely to try to affect other countries than their own back yard.

Also Brown University hasn't paid one dollar of taxes in the last 300 years.


This isn't about Class. This is about Birthright CASTE. As far as Ivy League students with class I find they are few and far between.

[unblock]

49. to be fair, there are plenty of ivy league students with class

a lot of us are very ordinary, regular people. problem is we tend to take ordinary jobs and not make the news.

it's just that those who don't has class ruin it for the rest of us.

every group has its minority of assholes that ruin it for the rest.

[unblock]

47. yes and no, racism is one of many factors

ultimately it's just another form of tribalism, but princeton, when i was there at least, was full of it, and to say that it was about race is to completely miss the nature and extent of the problem. the cliques were about which residential hall they assigned you to, which eating club you joined, which department you concentrated in, etc.

institutionally, they decided that a something like 4,400 undergraduates on one campus was too big (i grew up next to ohio state university, so princeton was small for me) and that one could feel lost, so they encouraged smaller groups to socialize in and it extended to everything. ultimately it seemed very silly for all their talk about diversity, to then encourage people to set bounds.

so, yes, it was racism, but it was also sexism and departmentism and upperclassmen vs. lowerclassmenism and residential hallism and eating clubism, etc.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. When did they apologize? Before or after she became famous?

[Captain Hilts]

4. I was wondering the same thing. nt

[TTUBatfan2008]

6. IDK...

The anchor only said that they've apologized and feel terrible about it. And that they think there needs to be a more open dialogue about the issue.

[Arugula Latte]

52. Jesus Christ. That was the 80s, right?

It's not like it was the 20s...Not that that would have been an excuse.

What the hell were they thinking?

[Lilyeye]

12. After she became famous. I read this article back in April during the primaries.

I remembering posting the article when it came out months ago on another board for people who were calling Michelle a racist because of her thesis. However, some jerks kept deleting it because it explained why she wrote what she did. Here's the link to the original article

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/04/12/roommate_0413.html

[Pirate Smile]

40. After. The roommate recognized her during Obama's victory speech after he won the Iowa Caucuses.

At least that is how I remember the story when it first came out during the Primaries (April or so, I think).

[jenmito]

5. I saw that. I wonder how long ago they apologized to her. n/t

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

7. I wonder if she would have apologized if she was not the Michelle Obama...

and it makes it almost seem that if she was not our new First Lady, that she would not have apologized. Regardless of who Michelle turned out to be, the actions of her family were wrong. Racism has always makes me want to slap the crap out of people. They can't help I know: but we are people too. We don't want what you have. We will get our own thank you very much. Its ok to apologize: its just wrong regardless who her roommate was at Princeton had it been Michelle or another black female student.

[TTUBatfan2008]

9. Damn right it's wrong...

The news anchors sort of referenced it as a recent example to show that things are NOT as perfect as people would like to pretend. I've seen a lot of people trying to pretend that both Obamas are post-racial, that they haven't dealt with racism. I know that's a load of horseshit myself because I'm only 23 and I have minority friends (of all stripes, not just African Americans) who have been discriminated against. And it's not just the blatant crap, it's the subtle things. Like when we go to a diner and the waiter or waitress ALWAYS asks me for my order first. I've come to the conclusion that it's not random. It's an inherent thing that has been built into people over the history of the country.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

15. Do you always sit in the same spot at the table first?

Because sometimes they take your order based on where you sit at the table to make sure everyone gets the right plate.

[TTUBatfan2008]

16. Nope...

seating is random.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

17. I have been discriminated against many times

and I just feel sorry for the people who only see my color. They only see the surface and that's why I am so happy when I see Michelle Obama. She has always been the kind of black woman that I have aspired to be. I have fought against people trying to stereotype me: look at me for CarolinaPeridot, not for who you think I am. This is why I am so happy that they are our new First Couple. I go YES!!!! everytime they come on the screen. Thank you so much Barack and Michelle: you make this 28 year old black woman from NC proud!!!

[Lilyeye]

18. So true. One of my friends was called a black (N word) last week by the secretary

of the man who is working on her house. Neither one of us could believe the nerve of this woman. It was almost unreal. Then the lady lied before my friend could contact her boss and told her my friend called her a racist slur first. Then she lied and said she called back the next day and threaten her life. The boss believed his worker until he talked to my friend. My friend told him she never called his business back after the incident and to check the call log. Now he is begging her to let him give her a discount, but she is so upset and wants the woman fired before she does any business with him.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

20. I wouldn't do any business with them at all.

That's just me. But if I am so low of person that your secretary would call me the N word and you believe her first, then tough shit, you won't get my money.

[Lilyeye]

21. I agree with you and I wouldn't either.

I honestly think she is mostly trying to get the woman fired more than anything. She told him she would tell people not to deal with him or his business if he didn't.

[TTUBatfan2008]

23. I feel the same way you do...

and I'm just a white dude. Bottom line is treat others the way you want to be treated. That is how my parents taught me growing up. If they show you no respect, they don't deserve your money.

[yardwork]

27. I've noticed that exact same thing and always speak up about it.

There have been numerous times when a server or waiter will try to take my order first even though an African American is ahead of me. I won't allow it. I always gesture toward the person ahead of me and indicate that they are first.

It's happening less and less frequently, and those doing it are usually older people.

[firedupdem]

8. Exactly! Can you imagine how that made her feel. People don't

know until they have experienced it.

[Hutzpa]

10. And Now.... SHE IS THE FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

there is a lesson in there somewhere.

[AspenRose]

25. You took the words right out of my mouth

[John Q. Citizen]

26. I was thinking the same thing.

[Top Cat]

11. Kick

[Lint Head]

13. Yeah. When it's in the face of racist jerks they apologize.

Thank God the republican party is dead.
:dem:

[DeschutesRiver]

14. She said her mother and other relatives didn't think the races should "mix"

Couldn't believe what I heard. The guy, Don Lemon I think, asked her if she had regrets - she said she wish she had stood up to her mother. So I assume she went along with it willingly at the time. She went on about how nice, funny, and smart Michelle was, and what a great friend she WOULD have made. Sounds like she was a "roommate" in terms of being assigned, and then the minute she found out Michelle was black, she and her mother made waves to get her away from living with a black person. I doubt that she was a roommate for more than a few days, while this race "mistake" was fixed. There was some line from this family about how the races need to stay separate. It was like listening to someone from the stone age.

Lemon asked if she had spoken to Michelle since that time; she said no, but that she'd been in contact with the campaign, and that they were very nice to her. So no, she didn't come out from under her rock until Michelle became First Lady. And I am sure the campaign told Michelle that this pathetic attention hound/status seeker now wants back in her good graces, and from the sound of it, Michelle isn't much interested.

I had the same thought, for all those freepers and that horrid Cindy Barbie McCain, who complained about Michelle's comment that she was "finally proud of America". They've never walked in a black person's shoes, and they refuse to see what is dished out daily or even use their brains to imagine a day in Michelle or any African-American's world. Because they don't care.

I mean, it wasn't all that many years ago that Michelle was at Princeton, and yet she runs into some white morons who don't think that "the races should mix"? These kind of people who think this kind of stuff need to continue on their path to extinction.

[eshfemme]

19. Hearing that "roommate" talk was just grating on my nerves.

Just watch them rag on Michelle for refusing to associate or acquaint herself with a racist who only regretted her actions AFTER Michelle got famous. I hate stupid fuckers like that.

[NoQuarter]

24. WORD UP!!!

That extinction cannot possibly happen fast enough.

[IndianaGreen]

29. That's the Bible for you!

Fundies believed that the races couldn't mix. They still frown on biracial marriages. They hate LGBTs. They think Jews are going to Hell. Their hero Rick Warren will give the invocation, and it will be carried live by every network, unlike poor gay Rev. Robinson's.

[EraOfResponsibility]

32. ...

:nopity:

[Vektor]

36. What's with the violin?

Are you mocking the person above who did not agree with the notions of segregation, homophobia, discrimination, or the fact that that Rev. Robinson's prayer was not aired?

If so, why? They seem like legitimate concerns.

[Bluebear]

22. "Hi, Michelle? I'[m sorry I moved out on you, and by the way, can you fix us up next time in DC?"

I would love to know when this apology came, just out of curiousity!

[Muttocracy]

28. The first *women* graduates from Princeton were in 1973

I bet her clueless roommate didn't have that perspective.

(The first female graduates from my alma mater, Cornell, were in 1873.)

[Captain Hilts]

44. State university UVA first permitted women to attend in 1973. nt

[Muttocracy]

51. oh, I'd forgotten how late it was - one more reason glad I didn't go there

plus too many people from my high school were going!

[fortyfeetunder]

31. Subject: Motive -- poor me, regrets, victim???

I am concerned about this "revelation" on this level. I recall the article in AJC last April and thought it was a done deal, apology given, apology accepted, and Donnelly can go back to her normal, probably segregated life.

But I found it all too interesting that Donnelly appears in the media this week when the woman she dismissed from her college life through adult hood will become the First Lady. And now she continues to regret what she did?

Was there supposed to be a victim somewhere?

[alarimer]

33. My school would ask what race you wanted your roommate to be.

I went to school in Alabama. When I signed up for the dorms, the RA asked me to list what color my roommate should be. No joke. She said, "If you don't list a preference, they will give you a black roommate." For the record I am white. This was in 1986. Of course it was East Shithole, AL (Troy, actually, yuck) so I guess I should not have been surprised. Mostly I was surprised you were even allowed to list a preference. Is this common? I think it would be better if they simply through people in together at random.

BUT I usually paid to have a room to myself. The roommate thing never did work out for me. My first roommate was a right-wing piece of shit. I hope she has 8 kids and is miserable now.

NOW this woman apologizes? Gee, the timing is suspicious.

[AZ Criminal JD]

35. You are saying roommates should be random

But you paid to have no roommates. You fail at logic. Only the poor in your book should have to suffer random roommates.

[Number23]

34. Anyone who thinks that this is even in the top *50* racial incidents that either Obama has endured

in their lifetimes, I have a small bridge I'd like to sell you.

Cash only...

[Karenina]

37. HAL-LO!

:hi: :rofl:

[Uzybone]

48. Exactly ...

n/t

[Jennicut]

38. Poor Michelle. I had roomate problems in college but never like that.

I had many african american friends in college actually. Of course that was in 1995-1999. I feel so bad for Michelle but she rose above it all.

[genna]

42. Why come out with this now?

Did I miss how or why this relevant to now?

Why would anyone want to be known as the person who stood in Michelle Obama's school house door? What is the benefit of that?

I did it and I apologize 20 years later because...

[NashVegas]

45. You Bet Your Ass They Regret It

Imagine the lost social and business opportunities ...

[No Elephants]

50. Right. Why on earth would a very poor African American female feel as though she

did not fit in at Princeton about 25 years ago? Weird, huh?